
The leaves form a rosette and are more or less rigid. Some have. brightly colored leaves 
and others are often mottled, striped or barred. } 
How to Grow Billbergias. All are tropical or semitropical and thus are hardy in 
‘outdoor gardens only in the deep south. But they are all easy to grow in pots and add 
distinction as well as beauty to the window garden. | 
In pots, they should have a soil of. 4 sand or sandy loam and % peat, or leaf mould, 
There should be plenty of drainage material in the pot as poor drainage may soon destroy 
them. Do not overwater when first planted or in winter when semi-dormant. Nor should 
they become dry enough to shrivel the foliage. In hot weather when they are growing 
well, water liberally. Keep a drink of water in their cups in the center. 
In the outdoor garden they should have the same soil as recommended for pots. 
A few, like “nutans,” will grow in nearly any soil but will do much better in the type — q 
recommended. : 
They need about half shade. Too much sun will burn and finally destroy the foliage. a 
Those species and varieties having highly colored foliage do not develop their rich 
colors when too deeply shaded. Most of our plants are grown in a well shaded Clivia 
house. When well established and growing, richer colors may be brought out by giving 
a little more sun than we do. Those listed below have rich tropical foliage and usually a 
a very showy inflorescence. All are tropical and are hardy outdoors only in the very 
deep south, but they are gorgeous pot plants and very easy to grow. 
All need about half shade. Too much shade prevents the coloring of those having e 
variegated or colored foliage. Do not overwater when first planted or in winter when 
semi-dormant, nor should they be dry enough to shrivel foliage. In hot weather, when 
mm wing well, water abundantly. Being epiphytic, their natural soil is rotted wood 
‘uld or leaf mould but they grow well in a shady garden in a sandy soil to which an 
indance of leaf mould or peat has been added. We grow them in pockets of leaf 
ald on the trunks of palm trees. In pots, give good drainage and a soil of sand or 
dy loam one part and leaf mould and/or peat 3 parts. Nature gave the Billbergias a 
‘in the center of plant to hold a drink of water. . 
 Billbergia calophylla. Large, bronze-green foliage with contrasting bars of grey. 
Very large, showy inflorescence of blood-red bracts and blue flowers. $2.00. 
B. corina. Beautiful foliage, barred grey. $2.50. | 
B. distachia. Foliage, reddish green with cream spots. Long flower racemes with © 
rose pink bracts and blue flowers with green margin. Blooms early spring and again in 
late summer. 50c. Three clones, slightly different, one of each for $1.15. : 
B. macrocalyx. Grey barred leaves to 18”. Bracts rose red. Yellowish green 
flowers edged light blue. $4.00. 
B. nutans. The most popular of all as it blooms in mid-winter and is very lovely. 
Pink bracts, blue and green flowers. 50c. Three for $1.00. 
B. pyramidalis. Dark green, luxuriant foliage. Dense spike with bright red bracts. 
Red petals, tipped violet. For an 8” pot. $2.00. 
B, rubro-cyanea. The most colorful in foliage, showing green, white and red 
combinations. Inflorescence, crimson bracts, flowers green, edged dark blue. To bring 
out colors in foliage give more sun exposure being careful that foliage does not burn. 
Two seedlings of this sanderiana-nutans hybrids at $1.25 ea. or both for $2.00. 
B. speciosa. Foliage green above. Under side greyish green. Bracts rose, flowers 
pale green tipped with blue. $2.00. | ! 
B. thrysiflora. Mature foliage faintly barred. Summer blooming. Vivid inflores- 
cence, scarlet bracts, blue and purple flowers. $1.50. 
B. Zebrina. Leaves with contrasting white bands and spots. Salmon bracts and 
green flowers. $2.50. 
Collection of all ten varieties, $16.00. 
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